Chandigarh October 26:
Largely dependent on coal-based thermal plants to meet its energy needs, the state government is keen to have a more diverse portfolio of energy sources. Official sources said there was a plan to set up a 1,000 MW gas-based power plant at Ropar besides generating power from renewable sources of energy.
The gas is to be transmitted through proposed Dadri-Bawana-Nangal pipeline, for which an agreement has already been signed with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). The state government has urged the Centre to direct GAIL to start work on the pipeline project at the earliest.
However, the state government has failed to make up its mind on the setting up of a nuclear power plant for which a site was proposed near Patran, about 60 km from Patiala. After a discussion at the top official level, it was decided to raise the issue of allotment of a nuclear power plant to the state at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting held on October 22.
Apprehending that such a demand at the council meeting could trigger public protests in the state on the lines of those in Tamil Nadu, the authorities concerned decided not to raise the issue at the meeting. At some distance from Patran, Haryana Government has planned to set up a nuclear power plant near Gorakhpur village. In Punjab, there is no political consensus on setting up of the nuclear power plant. A sizeable section of the Congress leaders is opposed to the nuclear plant.
At present, Punjab has coal-based thermal plants at Bathinda, Lehra Mohabbat (Rampura Phul) and Ropar. These are all in the public sector. In private sector, a coal-based thermal plant is coming up at Vanawala village near Talwandi Sabo and another one at Goindwal near Kapurthala. One coal-based thermal plant in private sector is to come up at Rajpura. At Gidderbaha, there is a proposal for installation of a coal-based thermal plant by the NTPC. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had recently announced that such a plant at Mukerian would be set up by the Punjab State Power Corporation. Hydro power comes from BBMB projects and some state-owned projects. Punjab has planned to generate energy from biomass, especially crop residue, garbage etc.
The Punjab Government has been criticised for approving setting up of a large number of coal-based thermal plants. These plants are not considered eco-friendly and are a big source of pollution, especially in and around Bathinda, where these have high concentration. Moreover, thermal plants in some parts of the country have been facing problems owing to short supply of coal from mines.
Largely dependent on coal-based thermal plants to meet its energy needs, the state government is keen to have a more diverse portfolio of energy sources. Official sources said there was a plan to set up a 1,000 MW gas-based power plant at Ropar besides generating power from renewable sources of energy.
The gas is to be transmitted through proposed Dadri-Bawana-Nangal pipeline, for which an agreement has already been signed with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). The state government has urged the Centre to direct GAIL to start work on the pipeline project at the earliest.
However, the state government has failed to make up its mind on the setting up of a nuclear power plant for which a site was proposed near Patran, about 60 km from Patiala. After a discussion at the top official level, it was decided to raise the issue of allotment of a nuclear power plant to the state at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting held on October 22.
Apprehending that such a demand at the council meeting could trigger public protests in the state on the lines of those in Tamil Nadu, the authorities concerned decided not to raise the issue at the meeting. At some distance from Patran, Haryana Government has planned to set up a nuclear power plant near Gorakhpur village. In Punjab, there is no political consensus on setting up of the nuclear power plant. A sizeable section of the Congress leaders is opposed to the nuclear plant.
At present, Punjab has coal-based thermal plants at Bathinda, Lehra Mohabbat (Rampura Phul) and Ropar. These are all in the public sector. In private sector, a coal-based thermal plant is coming up at Vanawala village near Talwandi Sabo and another one at Goindwal near Kapurthala. One coal-based thermal plant in private sector is to come up at Rajpura. At Gidderbaha, there is a proposal for installation of a coal-based thermal plant by the NTPC. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had recently announced that such a plant at Mukerian would be set up by the Punjab State Power Corporation. Hydro power comes from BBMB projects and some state-owned projects. Punjab has planned to generate energy from biomass, especially crop residue, garbage etc.
The Punjab Government has been criticised for approving setting up of a large number of coal-based thermal plants. These plants are not considered eco-friendly and are a big source of pollution, especially in and around Bathinda, where these have high concentration. Moreover, thermal plants in some parts of the country have been facing problems owing to short supply of coal from mines.
